Meet Canadian Daniel Machacek, Head of TEDxGöteborg
Originally from Canada, Daniel Machacek moved to Gothenburg with his Swedish wife and their children, seeking a life closer to nature and family. Now the head of TEDxGöteborg, Daniel shares his personal journey—from growing up in Ottawa to building a career in capital markets, and ultimately, making Sweden his permanent home. He opens up about his transition to Swedish life, the importance of family, and his passion for connecting people through TEDx.
Q: How long have you been in Sweden, and what brought you here?
I’ve been living in Sweden since August 2020. My family and I moved here because we wanted to raise our children closer to my wife’s side of the family. Sweden, especially Gothenburg, offers a great community and proximity to nature, which was important for us. We had visited Sweden many times before and were already familiar with the schools, preschools, and the beautiful environment. It felt like the right place to set down roots.
Q: What was your life like before moving to Sweden?
I grew up in Ottawa, Canada, which is a city like Gothenburg in size—big enough to have plenty of things to do, but without the stress of a massive city. Throughout my career, I’ve spent many years in Toronto, London, and traveling around the U.S. I worked in capital markets, and in 1995, joined my mentors to create our own firm. By 2000, we were acquired by a bank, and I was tasked with building up our business in the U.S., particularly in Boston from 2000 to 2007. After that, I moved to London to build the European side of the business. During that time, I met my wife while skiing in Chamonix.
Q: Why did you choose Gothenburg specifically?
After our first child was born, we realized that London wasn’t the best place to raise a family. We initially moved to Gothenburg for a year after Brexit to test it out. During that year, I started learning Swedish at Folkuniversitetet and grew to appreciate the lifestyle and work-life balance Sweden offers. We went back to Toronto in 2017 for a new role at the bank and for our children to attend elementary school there. But by the time we returned, we had already made up our minds to move to Sweden permanently. It was a decision we made before the pandemic, but experiencing four months of lockdown in Toronto only strengthened our resolve. Sweden’s approach, with its focus on individual responsibility and keeping schools open, impressed us, and in August 2020, we made the final move.
Q: What was it like for you and your family during your first year in Sweden?
The first year was an adjustment, but it went well. Both my wife and I worked remotely, which allowed us to balance our careers while settling in. During this time, I started exploring the local community and found myself looking at opportunities on LinkedIn. That’s when I discovered TEDxGöteborg. I had no idea TEDx existed outside of America, and I was really excited to get involved with such an inspiring organization.
Q: How did you get involved with TEDxGöteborg?
I joined the TEDxGöteborg team as a volunteer. It was an incredible opportunity to connect with people who shared a passion for bringing important ideas and stories to the stage. TEDxGöteborg gives people in our city a voice and a platform to share their ideas with a global audience through TED’s digital network. The commitment and passion of the TEDx team are really energizing. Everyone works closely together—whether it’s marketing, production, or speaker coaching. It’s all about creating the best experience for the audience and the speakers.
Q: What impact has working with TEDxGöteborg had on you personally?
It has been incredibly fulfilling. Working with TEDx has given me the chance to meet so many inspiring people and being part of a team that helps elevate others’ voices is powerful. Personally, it also helps me maintain a balance between work and family. Being part of TEDx has allowed me to give back to the community while supporting my wife’s career and being present for our children. I believe the time I get to spend with my family is invaluable, and working with TEDx has reinforced the importance of finding purpose beyond just professional achievements.
Q: How does TEDxGöteborg operate, and what sets it apart?
TEDxGöteborg is driven entirely by volunteers and local partners. Our main focus is always on finding great volunteers and speakers who can help bring new perspectives to the stage. We host a few smaller “salon” events each year, which are more focused debates on specific topics.
One of the most exciting events is the year’s main event on October 25th at World of Volvo. The theme is `The Melody of Life´: Where Innovation Meets Inspiration. The event will feature nine speakers, three musical acts, and a volunteer production team that captures everything on camera. Once the content is finalized, it’s submitted to TED in New York, where it gets reviewed and if approved, published on the official TEDx YouTube channel, which has over 41 million viewers. It’s amazing to see local voices from Gothenburg have the chance to reach such a global audience.
Q: How does TEDxGöteborg stay connected to the global TED platform?
TEDx is essentially a local extension of the global TED organization. TED started in California in 1984, and since then, it’s grown into a worldwide platform for sharing ideas. When a region, like Gothenburg, is granted a TEDx license, it gets access to best practices from TED, but the local team is responsible for everything else—finding funding, recruiting volunteers, and curating the events. Our team in Gothenburg is dedicated to maintaining TED’s high standards while also bringing our unique community perspective to the stage.
Q: How does TEDxGöteborg fund its events?
We’re fortunate to have supportive, local financial partners like Global Business Gate and ECARX Sweden, who help cover the costs of video production, ticketing, and other event expenses. We also rely on the generosity of venues, such as World of Volvo, which donate their space to host our events. In return, these partners see the value in the work we’re doing—connecting people, sharing ideas, and contributing to a global database of knowledge.
Q: Any final thoughts?
I’m excited about our upcoming events and the growing community around TEDxGöteborg, that’s all powered by passionate volunteers and the support of our financial and venue partners. I’m also looking forward to seeing how we continue to grow and inspire change, both in Gothenburg and beyond and I’m incredibly grateful for all the support we’ve received from different organizations here in Gothenburg. Being a part of TEDxGöteborg has reinforced my belief that ideas can change everything. If we can inspire even one person to make a positive change somewhere in the world, we’ve done our job.
Read more about TEDxGöteborg and the upcoming event >> TEDxGöteborg